R 181535Z OCT 11
ALCOAST 489/11
COMDTNOTE 5060
SUBJ: HONORING FALLEN SHIPMATES - USCGC CUYAHOGA (WIX-157)
1. ON 20 OCTOBER 1978, USCGC CUYAHOGA WAS UNDERWAY IN THE CHESAPEAKE
BAY ON A NIGHTTIME TRAINING MISSION WHEN SHE COLLIDED WITH THE 521
FOOT ARGENTINE FLAGGED FREIGHTER M/V SANTA CRUZ II. THE IMPACT OF
COLLISION WAS SO DEVASTATING THAT USCGC CUYAHOGA SANK IN JUST TWO
MINUTES, TAKING 10 COAST GUARDSMEN AND ONE INTERNATIONAL OFFICER WITH
HER. EIGHTEEN CREWMEMBERS SURVIVED THE INCIDENT.
2. THE USCGC CUYAHOGA SINKING - AND THE USCGC BLACKTHORN COLLISION
AND SINKING ONLY 15 MONTHS LATER - WERE TRAGEDIES THAT SPARKED NEEDED
IMPROVEMENTS IN COAST GUARD CUTTER POLICY, DOCTRINE, TRAINING AND
STANDARDIZATION. WE CREATED THE PROSPECTIVE CO/XO AFLOAT COURSE,
MANDATED THAT ALL CO/XO/OOD PASS THE DECK WATCH OFFICERS EXAM,
REQUIRED PROSPECTIVE CO/OINC TO CONDUCT UNDERWAY FAMILIARIZATION
RIDES, AND PROMULGATED COMMANDANTS CUTTER NAVIGATION STANDARDS. WE
TOOK DELIBERATE STEPS TO IMPROVE PROFICIENCY AND SAFETY IN OUR AFLOAT
OPERATIONS.
3. OUR MARITIME MISSIONS ARE ALWAYS DANGEROUS. HOWEVER, OPERATIONAL
TRAGEDY SHOULD NEVER BE THE CATALYST WE NEED TO ENSURE WE ARE
EFFECTIVELY MITIGATING RISK. RATHER, MY EXPECTATION IS THAT LEADERS
AT ALL LEVELS ARE PROACTIVELY ENGAGED TO ENSURE OUR OPERATIONS ARE AS
SAFE AS POSSIBLE. WHEN THEY CANNOT BE MADE SUFFICIENTLY SAFE, WE
WILL NOT PERFORM THEM UNTIL WE ARE READY TO DO THEM RIGHT.
4. TODAY WE HONOR THE SACRIFICE OF THOSE COAST GUARDSMEN WHO PERISHED
ABOARD USCGC CUYAHOGA 33 YEARS AGO BY ADHERING TO THE LESSONS WE
LEARNED FROM THAT TRAGEDY, STRENGTHENED BY THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY
DID NOT DIE IN VAIN.
5. FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE CUYAHOGA, INCLUDING SOME OF HER
SURVIVING CREW, WILL GATHER AT THE CUYAHOGA MEMORIAL AT TRAINING
CENTER YORKTOWN ON 20 OCTOBER 2011 TO REMEMBER THEIR LOST SHIPMATES.
PLEASE CONTACT LT CHAD THOMPSON AT (757) 856-2056 OR
CHAD.D.THOMPSON(AT)USCG.MIL FOR DETAILS. A DETAILED HISTORY OF USCGC
CUYAHOGA IS AVAILABLE AT:
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/TCYORKTOWN/INFO/HISTORY/CUTTERS/CUYAHOGA.ASP OR
HTTP://CGWEB.TCYORKTOWN.USCG.MIL/COMMAND/HISTORY/CUTTERS/CUYAHOGA.ASP
6. TODAY, PLEASE PAUSE TO REMEMBER THE LOST SHIPMATES OF THE USCGC
CUYAHOGA, AND REFLECT UPON THEIR SERVICE TO OUR NATION.
7. ADM BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED